the basics: huaraches

i know it’s fall, but i live in southern california, and my unexpected shoe choice as of late? the bestselling nisolo women’s ecuador huarache sandal. i don’t even know how i got by without them before! i chose them in the natural color, which does tan over time. or you can choose from two darker shades, or get all three! i’ve been pairing them with kick flares and white tops lately, so i thought i’d share two versions of the look that i’ve been wearing. and more importantly, i wanted to share that nisolo is offering a special sale on all three colorways through the end of the year!

from now until december 31st, follow this link to get a 10% off code on all nisolo huaraches!


suunday picnic top in dew
vintage sailor jeans
nisolo ecuador huarache in natural
clare v. petit alistair (get $25 off with this link!)



tradlands 116 varsity sweatshirt in shell
re/done jeans
nisolo ecuador huarache in natural
clare v. petit alistair (get 25% off with this link!)



a little cameo from edie, who decided to photobomb my shoot to show off her bellybutton!

super halloween

before i had kids, i didn’t have any preconceived notions about what holidays we’d celebrate or what traditions we’d adopt. but ever since adam was born, i’ve always really enjoyed the process of picking a costume, making it, and doing a little photo shoot. it’s the one time of year that i’ve consistently taken photos, so i can go back and look at what we’ve done year after year. this was the first time i broke my tradition of making their costumes from scratch, but i was really struggling with the idea of making something that might fall apart by the end of the night and ultimately end up in the trash. last year, i got them both matching black pajamas from primary as the base for simple bat costumes, which turned out to be really nice for reusing again and again. so this year, we went with the same concept and got these adorable hats and capes from lovelane designs that they could wear with their regular clothes. they’re made from a really sturdy cotton canvas, so the kids can wear them, wash them, and play in them any time of the year. they’re fun for open-ended imaginative play, and the brand sells other fun accessories so you can swap them out.

in fact, i’m planning on getting them a wooden trunk to fill with more fun “costumes” for play. when i was little, my mom would pick up fun accessories like opera-length gloves and vintage hats that she found at thrift stores and estate sales, and we spent hours playing with them until they became threadbare. i wonder if that had anything to do with my current penchant for “dressing up”…?


adam is wearing:
lovelane green moto set
soor ploom rosie coveralls (this color is from a past season)
cienta shoes

edith is wearing:
lovelane pink cape + gold crown set
petits villains victoire puff sleeve dress
mabo t-strap leather shoes








the olive festival

over the weekend, we headed out to highland springs ranch & inn in cherry valley for their annual olive festival. we started going there after we moved back to redlands a few years ago, and it’s become one of our favorite “hidden gems” in the area. i very rarely even bring a camera when we go out, and i hardly ever manage to sneak my way into a photo with the kids. usually because i’m the one snapping quick snapshots on my iphone between juggling things like the stroller and the diaper bag, or handing out snacks and managing tantrums. going out with the kids can sometimes feel like running a marathon, but if i remember to slow things down just a little bit, if i stop trying to see and do everything, then we manage to have a pretty good time. and i can even stop to get a few pictures to add to our photo album.

but anyway, back to the olive festival! if you live in the area, it’s definitely worth checking out highland springs ranch & inn. they have several different festivals and events throughout the year, most notably, the lavender festival in the spring. but they also have a cultured food festival in addition to things like burger wednesdays at the restaurant or just shopping at the organic galleries on the weekends, if you want a mellow spot to hang out. in fact, i really should do a more well-rounded guide to everything they have to offer… but for now, a few more snapshots of our weekend.


eating olive oil vanilla bean ice cream with a view of the lavender fields.


my trusty gear: a bugaboo stroller and leader co. diaper backpack.


why yes, i ate a giant bowl of olives for lunch.


edie is judging me for ordering a dirty martini, but it’s the *olive* festival, you guys. i had to do it.


they have a lot of kids crafts, including these olive leaf crowns. not pictured: the inordinate amount of time spent in the bounce houses.

outfit: the (faux) leather jacket

as i’ve been going through my wardrobe and focusing on the basics, i recently realized that there was one very crucial item missing from my closet: a biker jacket! in all my years of writing this blog, i have never owned one. how is that even possible? it’s such a classic, the type of thing that you find on pretty much every list of “wardrobe essentials.” and now that i got my hands on one, i can really see why. i went a little unconventional, for an olive green in a super soft faux suede and i’m so glad i did. i hate the feeling of being even a little bit restricted, so i really appreciate how lightweight and comfortable this is to wear. and it’s the perfect thing to throw over jeans and a t-shirt, it just works.

and to balance things out, i opted to pair the look with these new mary janes from zouxou. i have been searching for a pair like this for the past two years with no luck, so they are a bit like a dream come true. another total wardrobe essential that i know i’m going to be reaching for over and over this fall. if you’re not familiar with the brand, all of the shoes are handcrafted by argentinian shoemakers, responsibly produced in small quantities to reduce waste and energy use. and designer katherine theobalds splits her time between new york and argentina to oversee the responsible production of her shoes.

similarly, i’ve talked about fauxgerty before, but if you haven’t read-up on them, they’re based in st. louis and focus on using deadstock fabrics, sustainable fabrics, pvc-free faux leather, and faux-suede produce with post-consumer materials, in addition to employing workers right in st. louis and los angeles. they’d also like to offer up a discount code for those interested:

use code CALIVINTAGE for 15% off everything at fauxgerty!


the swazey jacket courtesy of fauxgerty
the muscle tank courtesy of fauxgerty
re/done ultra high rise jeans
eugenia flat in black glaze courtesy of zouxou
clare v. pot de miel






natural at-home waxing with parissa

 

when it comes to hair removal, i’m pretty low-maintenance. to be honest, i don’t frequently shave any of my body hair, and i certainly can’t be bothered with daily shaving. i’d much prefer to keep my shower routine simple, so i tend to use an electric razor on those occasions when i want smooth legs. but as someone who is (not so) secretly beauty-obsessed, i have to admit that i’ve always been really curious about waxing.

so when parissa asked me if i’d be interested in partnering to feature some of their products, i was more than ready to give it a try! then i started reading the story behind the brand, and i knew that it was something i had to share. it’s a family-owned company based in canada with a certified green and eco-friendly production facility created with the goal lowering their impact on earth’s resources. all of their ingredients, packaging, and components are sustainable and ethically sourced: the waxes are made from ingredients like tree resin, cane sugar, beeswax, vegetable oils, and plant extracts, which are safe for your body and for the planet. not only that, but they’re cruelty-free, a certified canadian women-owned company, and all of their packaging and paper products are certified by either the forest stewardship council or the sustainable forestry initiative. and that’s not even getting into the incredibly inspiring backstory of their founder, azar maoyeri, an accomplished chemical engineer and a canadian immigrant from iran.

and now onto the fun part: waxing my own legs! i went with the parissa wax strips super pack because i’m a complete waxing newbie. for me, i’m more interested in using a product that’s going to be relatively easy and low-maintenance. i’d thought about waxing before, but was always too intimidated to try, worried that it would hurt or that it would just be plain too hard for me to do correctly! luckily for me, the kit i used doesn’t even require heating! using their strips for waxing, you simply soften the wax with your own body heat, slap them on, and pull them off. that’s it.

i’ve done this a couple of times since i got my first pack, and i can also share a few pointers (which are also outlined in the instructions) in case you were wondering about trying them yourself. the first time i tried them, i thought i could cheat by doing it on really short stubble. don’t be tempted to do it! you really do need to wait the approximately 2 weeks it takes for your hair to grow at least 1/4″ in length! but the results are totally worth the wait. i have light skin with really dark and thick hair, which means that you can always see the hair follicles underneath my skin, even when i get a close shave. waxing turns out to be the perfect solution to this because it removes the hair from the root, giving you ridiculously silky smooth skin with no stubble even days after you’ve done it, which i’d honestly never quite experienced before!

it’s so funny that i was ever intimidated about giving waxing a try. once i started thinking about it, at-home waxing really is the more low-maintenance option for hair removal because the results last for so much longer than shaving. you have to shave every single day to achieve a smooth look, but with waxing, it takes 2 weeks! so we’re talking about hair removal about once a month versus every day. and once you get the hang of it, you can do it comfortably and at your own leisure. i could see myself applying a face mask and waxing my legs before settling down on the sofa to watch netflix. nbd.

the bottom line? i’ve been converted. it’s so easy and the results are way better than you get from a razor. the ingredients are all-natural, safe, and effective. they’re cruelty free, sustainable, and woman-owned. need i say more?


the contents of the parissa wax strips super pack (which can be purchased separately as well): wax strips for legs & bodywax strips for face & bikiniazulene aftercare oil, and an exfoliating glove for use in the shower to keep ingrown hairs at bay.


the parissa wax strips for legs & body.


warming up the wax. this is so you can separate them into two individual strips.


separating the two strips.


apply in the direction of hair growth and remove in the opposite direction of hair growth. see that stubble? i’m not faking this– it’s about to go!


ta-da!


the parissa azulene aftercare oil and an exfoliating glove.


ok, this aftercare oil is basically like little baby angel wings that came floating down from heaven on a silken cloud to soothe and soften your skin. you do experience some redness immediately post-waxing that goes down in a couple of hours, but i took these photo immediately before and after waxing, and the camera can hardly pick it up. the oil seriously helps with this, and you’ll love it so much that you’ll be spraying it on your legs every day. it’s better than lotion!


this post was created in partnership with parissa. thank you so much for supporting the sponsors that make this blog possible!

the basics: tradlands t-shirt & sweatshirt

if you haven’t noticed, i’ve been thinking a lot about “the basics” lately. as much as i enjoy playing around with seasonal styles or different accessories, i think every wardrobe needs that foundation of really good, quality basics. a good t-shirt, a comfy sweatshirt. totally necessary and not boring at all. at the beginning of the summer, i picked up two instant classics from one of my favorites, tradlands. the 103 girlfriend t-shirt in sienna and the 116 varsity sweatshirt in shell. i’ve worn both of these for months and thought it was time to share two of my favorite ways to wear them. the first look is a more feminine take with a bit of a ’70s vibe while the second look has a more casual, slightly more boyish vibe that would be perfect for a trip to the beach.

and the best part is that tradlands is dedicated to employing adults who are paid a living wage, work in bright, clean and airy environments, and choose to come to work every day. they visit their production facilities regularly to assure a happy and healthy environment and all of their production partners hold social welfare and production quality to the highest standards. and they use natural fibers that are sustainably produced to be more ecologically responsible. the result is a high quality product with thoughtful construction from beginning to end.








look one:
103 girlfriend t-shirt in sienna courtesy of tradlands

not pictured: true & co true body underwire
jesse kamm sailor pants in american denim
maryam nassir zadeh sandals
clare v. pot de miel










look two:
116 varsity sweatshirt in shell courtesy of tradlands
re/done jeans (currently sold out, but the ultra high rise flare is really similar)
ecuador huarache sandals courtesy of nisolo
clare v. petit alistair in cuoio


fall wishlist

i may be kinda far behind on this one, but i can’t help it! i live in southern california and fall isn’t even really a season. but i do like to shift my color palette and i do need to add some clothes appropriate for slightly cooler temperatures. so here’s my list!

cozy sweaters – i think i may be the last person on the planet to own a babaa cardigan and it’s killing me. similar to many cool-weather fashion choices, i sometimes have a hard time committing to warm clothing for fear that i’ll never actually need to wear them. as i write this, it’s the month of october and the highs have still been hitting temps in the 90s. but if i don’t get some sweaters now, then january will roll around and i’ll have approximately one sweater, which i will proceed to wear every morning for the next 6 months. it gets old. i ask myself why i didn’t just buy myself a couple more sweaters before everything sold out. i find myself wrapped in a blanket on the sofa without a viable option for going out. and forget driving 30 minutes to the mountains where it’s actually snowing. i don’t have the wardrobe. what am i doing with my life?! just get the damn sweater.

babaa cardigan no19 mini in navy

l’envers caby cardigan in white

 

ankle boots – ever since moving back to southern california, i resist wearing boots. this is because of two things: 1. the weather only gets cool enough to wear boots for a very short period of time. i find it hard to justify the high price of a good pair of boots when i know i won’t wear them very much. and more importantly, 2. i have some sort of weird foot claustrophobia thing. i can’t stand the feeling of my feet being completely ensconced. it feels like my feet are mummified. or trapped in a coffin. both? at the end of the day, as i start to unlace them, i break into a momentary panic and sweat starts to bead up on my forehead. it lasts for a split second before the sweet relief of removing my shoe, but that feeling of being trapped is real. i should probably seek therapy. and i should probably buy at least one pair of block heel ankle boots before they go out of style.

loq lazaro boot in bombon croc

by far becca suede ankle boot in brown

 

pants pants pants – i paired down my collection of kamm pants over the summer and am now 100% regretting it. i hadn’t been wearing them because it was insanely hot, but now there’s this massive hole in my closet because i have a habit over over-kondoing everything in my life until i’m living like a monk and i am not happy. i got rid of all the happy. i got rid of all my pants. and let’s just be real here. the only pants that i will ever wear for the rest of my life are the kind that are so high rise that i can pull them up to my armpits. and i will definitely never wear a pair of skinny jeans again. *buys all of the kamm pants and mom jeans immediately.*

agolde ’90s mid rise loose fit jeans

ilana kohn huxie pants

jesse kamm sailor pant in skin tone 34

re/done ultra high rise jeans

 

statement bag – lately i’ve been steering away from leather handbags in favor of more interesting textures and styles. i carried my clare v. pot de miel all summer and loved it. i got compliments all the time! and it just felt like it added more interest to my outfits than a classic leather bag. but it always gets to a point in the fall/winter when a basket bag seems silly. so i’ll be transitioning to this beautiful, hand-dyed rope coil bag by catz orange.

catz orange cosimo in pistachio

 

and also… all of the jumpsuits – mom uniform, whatever. ever since i discovered that jumpsuits are like dresses but approximately 5,00 times better, i’m never going back. i got the most perfect offon linen jumpsuit in the most beautiful redwood color this summer. i loved that damn thing, but i sized down for fear that it would overwhelm my freakishly short torso, but my calculations were wrong. such is the risk of ordering made-to-order clothing from a lithuanian etsy shop. i waited 4-6 weeks for them arrive. they fit, but not as i had hoped. i’ll be restarting the process promptly. i suggest you do the same. well, not the part where you order the wrong size. but the part where you get the best linen jumpsuit ever.

offon redwood linen jumpsuit

caron callahan cardell jumpsuit

beaton overalls in alabaster

ilana kohn mabel coverall

outfit: suunday

snapped a few pictures during a weekend stroll through the park. the heat has been pretty unforgiving this past week, but this linen dress is giving me life. it gets to a point where you just want to be as comfortable as possible, and i don’t think there’s anything quite a comfy as a floaty linen dress. i know i’ve talked about how much i love linen ad nauseum, but i can’t help it. i don’t think a more perfect fiber exists. and while this is really nice on a hot day, i can also see myself wearing it with an oversized wool cardigan (hello, babaÁ ?) when the weather starts to cool off. if comfort food were an outfit, i think that would be it.

and i also want to take a moment to talk about suunday. i only recently learned about the brand, probably either scrolling through instagram or pinterest haha. this arizona-based brand was created by designer stacie lang, who is dedicated to ethically-crafted, long-lasting pieces, like this perfect linen dress!

wearing:
the emma dress in gardenia courtesy of suunday
martiniano glove flats in wood
bamboo clutch courtesy of moorea seal


 

let’s start with the basics

i remember when i first started wearing everlane. it was right after adam was born, so getting close to 5 years ago. i think it was the first time that i purchased a basic t-shirt for a $15, which seemed like a lot at the time. it’s funny how so much can change in such a short amount of time. back then, i had already been pretty focused on smaller, independent fashion brands. and i had a job at a large online fashion company that was working towards more transparency in the supply chain. so i was definitely becoming more aware of some of the ethical issues around production. but i was still having trouble justifying a higher price point for an item of clothing that i knew i could grab at a big box store or fast fashion retailer for a fraction of the price.

i got three box cut tees in white, black, and navy. and i picked up a chambray shirt, all the foundation of my new “mom wardrobe” as i called it. i had a newborn at the time, so i was creating what i later came to learn was my own little capsule collection. i had dramatically shifted focus towards really good basics that i could wash and wear comfortably while still feeling pulled together. and from that point on, i never looked back.

since then, my budget really hasn’t changed dramatically, but i’ve learned how to shift my focus from quantity to quality. today, my wardrobe is much smaller than it ever has been. people are often shocked when they see my closet because they assume that, as a fashion blogger, i would have way more clothes. but the reality is that if you focus on the basics, you can build a really practical wardrobe that will last from season-to-season, so you don’t have the need to constantly add more and more. and whenever a friend asks me for fashion advice, i usually point them in the direction of everlane. it’s kinda like the gateway drug for ethical fashion. and they have really good basics. so of course, i was more than happy to partner with the brand to highlight two simple outfits that serve as a great foundation for an easy wardrobe that’s focused on quality over quantity, while still being totally affordable. scroll for all of the details!




look one:
everlane bikini in pale pink (not pictured, but trust me)
everlane cotton box cut tee in white
everlane cheeky straight ankle jeans in sky blue
everlane day heel in cognac

my first look is a really great primer. the basics include a bikini, a simple box cut tee, a fun pair of high rise jeans, and a pair of heels that you can wear all day. i can tell you now that the underwear are a dream and i’ve already ordered several pairs of the high rise. they are really think and stretchy so that you don’t see any lines under your clothes, which is surprisingly hard to find! and if you’re looking for a good pair of mom jeans, then these are it. you can wear your usual size for a slightly more relaxed fit (which i personally prefer) or size down if you prefer a fitted look. and i was really skeptical about the day heel, but the product design team knows what they’re doing. they look good, they feel good, and you really can wear them #alldamnday, as the hashtag suggests.



look two:
everlane square mockneck tee in olive
everlane straight leg crop in bone 
everlane v heel in light blue suede

my second look features some new additions to the everlane lineup. it’s a transitional look since we’ve still got one foot in summer over here, but i think everyone is ready for cooler temperatures. the mockneck tee is one of my favorite silhouettes to wear in the fall. and don’t get me started on the pants. i had been eyeing the original wide leg crop for ages, but just never took the plunge. and i have to say, i was really impressed with the quality. the cotton is a substantial, but it has just the right amount of stretch so that they are comfortable even after a big meal haha. and the v heels are so much fun. i’ve been wanting to play around with some different colors and who can resist a pair of powder blue suede shoes?

this post was created in partnership with everlane.

outfit: revelle collection

today’s post is my little send off to summer. here in southern california, we’re still experiencing highs of 90 degrees every day, but it’s about the time when i start to transition to a slightly different color palette while dreaming of those picture-perfect autumnal scenes that i only get to see in movies. these two looks from revelle perfectly sum-up my late summer/early fall wardrobe.

if you’re not familiar with the brand, revelle is a one-woman show based in los angeles, california, dedicated to providing thoughtfully designed and custom-made clothes with a certain retro appeal that’s hard not to love. i first fell in love with her clothes when i laid eyes on this absolutely perfect grey cropped sweatshirt. it’s a style i’ve always loved, but i’ve never quite been able to pull-off the menswear version. the 1950s sweatshirts i’ve found are always way too boxy in the top and far too long on my incredibly short torso. but designer lisa nicole harbottle knows how to handle curves. she sent me this made-to-measure sweatshirt that is making me feel so very va va voom. and that’s not something is say often! when i put it on, i feel a bit like a pin-up portrait of someone iconically sexy like marilyn monroe cheekily lifting weights without breaking a sweat. and it is simultaneously something i can throw on with utility jeans most days of the week while working from home, running errands, and picking up the kids from school.

and this darling gingham market jumpsuit is making me feel some kind of way. this one has definitely got a certain girl-next-door vibe. it’s still totally comfortable and practical for day-to-day, but it’s got a certain sex appeal that really hits the mark for me. and just like the sweater, you can customize it to fit your shape, and you can choose between this black & white gingham cotton twill or black linen, a tapered leg as seen here, or a wide leg trouser. any variation feels so perfect for this time of year when we’re transitioning from peek summer into shorter days and slightly cooler temperatures. i think gingham is an especially nice early fall pattern that still feels appropriate for 90 degree days!

wearing:
market jumpsuit courtesy of revelle
isla slide sandal in black courtesy of nisolo
avenue boutique espanola hat
circular handwoven palm bag in small courtesy of artisan & fox